Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó routinely briefed Russia on developments inside EU Council meetings, according to a report first published by the Washington Post, a claim that has intensified tensions ahead of Hungary’s upcoming election.
The report said Szijjártó regularly contacted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during EU summits, relaying details of discussions to Moscow. It also alleged that Russia’s foreign intelligence service had considered staging an attack on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to boost his political standing.
Szijjártó rejected the claims, calling them “crazy conspiracy theories” and “propaganda,” and suggested political opponents and Ukraine were behind the accusations.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the allegations were credible and reflected long-standing suspicions. Speaking as cited by Euractiv, Tusk said it “shouldn’t come as a surprise” that Hungarian officials were leaking details of EU meetings to the Kremlin.
He added that such concerns had shaped his own conduct during European Council discussions. “We’ve had our suspicions for a long time,” Tusk said, noting he limited his interventions to what was strictly necessary.
The revelations come weeks before Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary election, where Orbán faces a strong challenge from opposition leader Péter Magyar. The campaign has already been marked by accusations of foreign interference, and the latest claims risk further escalating tensions over Hungary’s relationship with both Brussels and Moscow.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki will travel to Budapest on March 23, public radio reported citing unofficial sources, with plans to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and support him ahead of elections.
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Source: euractiv.com